Query optimizer system that detects and prevents mutating table violations of database integrity in a query before execution plan generation

ABSTRACT

An automated system for detecting and preventing mutating table violations of database integrity in a SQL query before generation and selection of an optimal query execution plan (QEP). This system modifies the query graph model (QGM) to restrict the choice of execution plans to those that avoid mutating table integrity (MTI) violations, thereby forcing database integrity during table mutation when executing the optimal QEP. Mutating table integrity violations are detected by evaluating the position in the QGM of each write-node referencing a particular base table with respect to each of the positions of all other read- and write-nodes referencing of the same base table. Every common-referencing node pair is tested for sequencing conflicts and a data-flow dam is inserted in the QGM where necessary to force the completion of the execution of one node before initiating execution of the other common-referencing node. The system of this invention allows processing of all non-cyclic and most cyclic SQL queries known to cause mutating table integrity violations, such as queries having searched and positioned inserts, deletes and updates, and row-level triggers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to systems for automatic query optimization and execution in relational database management systems and particularly to a system for restricting execution plans during query merger and optimization to eliminate all plans containing mutating table violations of database integrity.

2. Description of the Related Art

A relational database management system (RDBMS) is a computer database management system that uses relational techniques for storing and retrieving data. Relational databases are computerized information storage and retrieval systems in which data in the form of tables (formally denominated "relations") are typically stored for use on disk drives or similar mass data stores. A "table" includes a set of rows (formally denominated "tables" or "records") spanning several columns. Each column in a table includes "restrictions" on the data contents thereof and may be designated as a primary or foreign key. Reference is made to C. J. Date, An Introduction to Database Systems, 6th edition, Addison-Wesley Publishing Co. Reading, Mass. (1994) for an comprehensive general treatment of the relational database art.

A RDBMS is structured to accept commands to store, retrieve and delete data using high-level query languages such as the Structured Query Language (SQL). The term "query" denominates a set of commands for retrieving data from a stored database. The SQL standard has been promulgated by the International Standards Association since 1986. Reference is made to the SQL-92 standard "Database Language SQL" published by the ANSI as ANSI X3.135-1992 and published by the ISO as ISO/IEC 9075:1992 for the official specification of the 1992 version of the Structured Query Language. Reference is also made to James R. Groff et al. (LAN Times Guide to SQL, Osborne McGraw-Hill, Berkeley, Calif., 1994) for a lucid treatment of SQL-92.

As used herein, a "query" refers to a set of user commands for retrieving data from the stored database. The query language requires the return of a particular data set in response to a particular query but the method of query execution ("Query Execution Plan") employed by the DBMS is not specified by the query. There are typically many different useful execution plans for any particular query, each of which returns the required data set. For large databases, the execution plan selected by the DBMS to execute a query must provide the required data return at a reasonable cost in time and hardware resources. Most RDBMSs include a query optimizer to translate queries into an efficiently executable plan. According to the above-cited Date reference, the overall optimization process includes four broad stages. These are (1) casting the user query into some internal representation, (2) converting to canonical form, (3) choosing prospective implementation procedures, and (4) generating executable plans and choosing the cheapest of said plans.

For example, FIG. 1 shows a query translation process known in the art. Queries written in SQL are processed in the phases shown, beginning with lexing at step 13, parsing and semantic checking at step 14, and conversion to an internal representation denoted the Query Graph Model (QGM) 15, which is a command data-structure that summarizes the semantic relationships of the query for use by the query translator and optimizer components. A query global semantics (QGS) process 17 adds constraints and triggers to QGM 15. A QGM optimization procedure 16 then rewrites the query into canonical form at the QGM level by iteratively "rewriting" one QGM 15 into another semantically equivalent QGM 15. Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,675 issued to Cheng et al., entirely incorporated herein by this reference, for a discussion of a useful QGM rewrite technique that merges subqueries. Also, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,276,870 wherein Shan et al. describe a QGM optimization technique that introduces a "view" node function to the QGM to permit base table references to "VIEWs" by other nodes. This conditions the QGM to permit the execution plan optimizer 18 to treat a view like a table.

QGM optimization procedure 16 rewrites QGM 15 to simplify the subsequent plan optimization process 18, which produces Query Execution Plans (QEPs). Plan optimization procedure 18 generates alternative QEPs and uses the best QEP 20 based on estimated execution costs. The plan refinement procedure 22 transforms optimum QEP 20 by adding information necessary at run-time to make QEP 20 suitable for efficient execution. Importantly, the QGM optimization step 16 is separate and distinct from the QEP optimization in step 18. Reference is made to U.S. Pat. 5,345,585 issued to Iyer et al., entirely incorporated herein by this reference, for a discussion of a useful join optimization method suitable for use in QEP optimization step 18. Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,317 issued to Lohman et al., entirely incorporated herein by the reference, for a description of an adaptive QEP optimization procedure suitable for step 18.

QGM 15 used in the Query Rewrite step 16 can be understood with reference to Pirahesh et al. ("Extensible/Rule-Based Query Rewrite Optimization in Starburst", Proc. ACM-SIGMOD Intl. Conf. on Management of Data, San Diego, Calif., pp. 39-48, June 1992). A useful QGM known in the art is now described in detail. FIG. 2 provides a QGM graphical representation of the following SQL query:

    ______________________________________                                         SELECT DISTINCT Q1.PARTNO, Q1.DESCR, Q2.PRICE                                  FROM INVENTORY Q1, QUOTATIONS Q2                                                WHERE Q1.PARTNO=Q2.PARTNO                                                       AND Q2.PRICE>100                                                             ______________________________________                                    

A SELECT box 24 is shown with a body 26 and a head 28. Body 26 includes data-flow arcs 30 and 32, which are also shown as the internal vertices 34 and 36. Vertex 36 is a set-former that ranges on (reads from) the box 38, which provides records on arc 32. Similarly, vertex 34 ranges on box 40, which flows records on data-flow arc 30. The attributes to be retrieved from the query, PARTNO 46, DESC 48 and PRICE 50, are in head 28. Boxes 38 and 40 represent the base tables accessed by the query, INVENTORY 42 and QUOTATIONS 44, respectively. Box 24 embraces the operations to be performed on the query to identify the PARTNOs that match in the two base tables, as required by the join predicate 52 represented as an internal predicate edge joining vertices 34 and 36. Vertex 34 also includes a self-referencing predicate 54 to identify prices of those PARTNOs that exceed 100.

For the purposes of this invention, note that each box or node (formally denominated "quantifier node") in FIG. 2 is coupled to one or more other nodes by data-flow arcs (formally denominated "quantifier columns"). For instance, base table node 38 is coupled to select node 24 by data-flow arc 32 and base table node 40 is connected to select node 24 by data-flow arc 30. The activities inside select node 24 produce a new stream of data records that are coupled to the TOP node 56 along a data-flow arc 58. TOP node 56 represents the data output table requested by the query.

The object of several known QGM optimization procedures is to merge one or more nodes where possible by eliminating (collapsing) data-flow arcs. For instance, the above-cited Pirahesh et al. reference describes a set of rules for merging any number of nodes into a single SELECT node, with certain restrictions on non-existential or non-Boolean factor subqueries, set operators, aggregates and user-defined extension operators such as OUTER JOIN. Thus those skilled in the art know that QGM optimization step 16 usually rewrites the QGM to eliminate numerous nodes and data-flow arcs even before considering useful query execution plans in plan optimization step 18 (FIG. 1). Also, most execution plans usually pipeline data along the data-flow arcs without waiting to complete execution of a node before flowing data to the next node.

This situation is the basis of several well-known problems in the RDBMS art. These problems are known variously as database "integrity" problems, which arise from "violations" of "integrity rules" arising from column constraints, key constraints and the like. In the above-cited reference, Date uses the term "integrity" to refer to the accuracy or correctness of the data in the database. Related database processing problems include "mutating table violations" of constraints such as "relational integrity" constraints. Although mutating table violations may not affect database integrity directly, they can cause unpredictable variation in query results.

For instance, one or more columns in a base table may be assigned a "key attribute", such as "primary key" or "foreign key". The primary key of a base table uniquely identifies each record (row) in the table. A foreign key establishes a relationship between the base table and another parent table designated by the foreign key column attribute. Thus, a parent/child relationship may be established between two tables by adding a foreign-key column attribute to one and relating it to the primary-key column attribute in another, as is well-known in the art. Such relationships may be added without limit and each key attribute may span several columns.

Disadvantageously, there are four types of database updates that can corrupt the referential integrity of the parent/child relationships in a database. These include (a) inserting a new child record, (b) updating the foreign key in a child record, (c) deleting a parent record, and (d) updating the primary key in a parent record.

When a new row is inserted into the child table, its foreign key value must match one of the primary key values in the parent table, according to the column attribute. If the foreign key value does not match any primary key, inserting the row corrupts the database because there is now a child without a parent. Such an INSERT is typically rejected by the DBMS. Inserting a row in a parent table never gives this problem because it simply becomes a parent without children. Updating the foreign key in a child record is a different form of this problem. If the foreign key is modified by an UPDATE statement, the new value must match some primary key value in the parent table to avoid "orphaning" the updated record.

Upon deletion of a parent record that has one or more children, the child records are orphaned because their foreign key values no longer match any existing primary key value in the parent table. Such violations either cause the DELETE operation to be rejected, CASCADE to delete the orphaned child, or reset the orphaned child foreign key column to NULL (or DEFAULT). Deleting a record from the child table is no problem because the parent merely loses a child. Updating the primary key in a parent record is a different form of this problem. If the primary key of a parent record is modified, all existing children of that record become orphans because their foreign key values no longer match an existing primary key value.

For each parent/child relationship created by a foreign key, SQL provides for an associated delete rule and an associated update rule. The delete rule specifies DBMS action when a user tries to delete a parent record. Available rules include RESTRICT, CASCADE, SET NULL, and SET DEFAULT. The update rule specifies one of these DBMS actions when the user tries to update the value of one of the primary key columns in the parent table. The usual RESTRICT rule merely rejects the attempted operation. The CASCADE rule automatically deletes or updates records from the children responsive to a command to delete or update a parent record. As is well-known, a CASCADE update may propagate across many base tables, converting each into a "mutating table" at times during the referentially-triggered actions. The base table object of the DELETE may also be mutating.

Practitioners in the art have proposed several classes of solutions to this referential integrity problem. For instance, insertion of a child record may be rejected with an error message because a search of the parent table does not find the child record key. UPDATE of a primary key in a parent record may be rejected or cascaded to change all related child keys to the same value (or to a NULL or DEFAULT value). Such a requirement is herein denominated a "referential constraint". A table that is in the process of being modified responsive to an UPDATE, DELETE or INSERT statement or because of the propagating enforcement of a referential constraint is herein denominated a "mutating table." As used herein, any table that is in the process of modification by a particular relational operation is said to be a "mutating table." In general, user-specified SQL operations that attempt to read or modify a mutating table are rejected as invalid at run-time. Proper semantics require the completion of a table-mutating operation before any other operation is allowed to read or modify the table.

Until now, other than "version-logging" of a mutating database, user query restrictions were the only methods known in the art for preventing mutating table violations of integrity related to referential constraints and triggers. Restrictions on the types of legal queries generally operate by raising a run-time error return responsive to either a potential or actual mutating table violation. In general, the user query restrictions known in the art may be grouped as (a) restrictions on queries, (b) restrictions on the number of records modified by query, and (c) restrictions on row-level triggers.

Reference is made to the above-cited Groff et al. reference at pp. 266-285 for a detailed discussion of SQL provisions for referential integrity and triggered actions. Reference is also made to Kevin Owens et al. ("Oracle7 Triggers: The Challenge of Mutating Tables", Database Programming and Design, 7(10): 47-55, October 1994) for a detailed description of SQL trigger applications and the resulting mutating table violations of integrity. Owens et al. conclude that row-level and statement-level triggers are advantageous tools but row-level triggers can cause mutating table errors if the trigger performs a read from the same table or uses a column from the same table in a join. They recommend avoiding the problem by loading the table at the row-level and operating on it at the after-statement level to ensure completion of row-level updates before reading.

FIGS. 3A-3G show several examples of mutating table integrity problems known in the art. FIG. 3A shows a self-referencing DEPARTMENT base table and FIG. 3B shows a SIMILARDEPARTMENT base table that is identical to the DEPARTMENT table. The mutating table integrity violation occurs when attempting to execute the following query:

    ______________________________________                                         INSERT INTO DEPARTMENT                                                          SELECT * FROM SIMILARDEPARTMENT                                               ______________________________________                                    

The result of the execution of this query depends on the sequence in which the records (rows) of SIMILAR DEPARTMENT are accessed. If row 60 (FIG. 3B) is first read, the insert to DEPARTMENT fails because the ADNO column value of 1 does not exist in the primary key column DEPTNO of DEPARTMENT. If the row 62 is first read, the insert succeeds because the NULL value of the ADNO column does not violate the parent/child relationship between the DEPTNO and ADMINDNO columns. After insertion of row 62, a later attempt to insert row 60 succeeds because the DEPTNO primary key values now include the 1 from the earlier-inserted row 62.

It is appreciated by practitioners skilled in the RDBMS art that a query execution must succeed independent of the sequence of any possible execution plan. Also, the operation of the QGM Rewrite step 16 and QEP=Optimize step 18 (FIG. 1) together prevent any preconditioning of the execution sequence of the optimal QEP produced by the DBMS. Accordingly, because record access sequence may not be predetermined, if a self-referencing table is the object of an INSERT statement with a subquery, the DBMS must require that the subquery not return more than one row or that the INSERT statement be rejected. In practice, this violation is not detected until run-time, after completion of all query optimization activities. To avoid processing errors, the user is obliged in the art to "code around" this restriction to obtain the desired function.

The mutating table integrity violation associated with an attempt to update the primary key value of a parent record is exemplified by FIG. 3C in connection with the following SQL query:

    ______________________________________                                         UPDATE EMPLOYEE SET EMPNO = EMPNO + 1                                           WHERE EMPNO = <5                                                              ______________________________________                                    

Because EMPNO is the primary key of the EMPLOYEE table, the result of this query depends on the sequence in which the records are read from the EMPLOYEE base table. If the rows are accessed in primary key order, the update fails because the first attempt to update record 001 to 002 duplicates the primary key of record 002, thereby violating the primary key column restriction. If the table is accessed in reverse order, the update succeeds because key 005 is replaced with key 006, key 004 is replaced with key 005 subsequently, and so forth, thereby avoiding any primary key column restriction violations. Thus, when the columns of a primary key are updated, the update statement must be restricted by the predicate to no more than one record. This violation is also usually undetected until run-time, after completion of query optimization. This problem also arises in a cursor-controlled update ("positioned" UPDATE) on any of the primary key columns or on columns of a VIEW derived from a primary key. That is, the DBMS must prohibit the above query in an updatable cursor because the number of affected rows in a cursor operation cannot be predeterminately restricted to one row.

FIG. 3D illustrates a potential integrity violation in a self-referencing table subject to a DELETE WHERE CURRENT OF operation (a "positioned" DELETE). The foreign key column ADMINDNO is constrained with a CASCADE delete rule in this example query:

    ______________________________________                                         DECLARE CURSOR A                                                                SELECT * FROM DEPARTMENT                                                      OPEN A                                                                         DO                                                                              FETCH A                                                                        DELETE FROM DEPARTMENT WHERE CURRENT                                           OF A                                                                          ______________________________________                                    

The number of rows retrieved by this query depends on the sequence in which the rows are retrieved. If row 64 is first retrieved, the delete of primary key 1 cascades to row 66 and no more rows remain to be retrieved. If row 66 is first retrieved, the delete of primary key 2 does not cascade and row 64 is next retrieved.

A DELETE statement that has a subquery referencing a table that can be affected by the deletion of rows from the target table violates database integrity during table mutation and is accordingly prohibited in most RDBMSs. FIG. 3E illustrates an example of the potential problem arising from a DELETE with a subquery. For this example, another relationship has been set up between EMPLOYEE and DEPARTMENT. This relationship shows to which department the employee reports, which may differ from the one in which the employee works. FIG. 3F shows the records in DEPARTMENT and FIG. 3G shows the records in EMPLOYEE. This problem arises upon attempted execution of the SQL query:

    __________________________________________________________________________     DELETE FROM DEPARTMENT                                                          WHERE DEPTNO NOT IN (SELECT REPORTS FROM EMPLOYEE                               WHERE EMPLOYEE.REPORTS = DEPARTMENT.DEPTNO)                                  __________________________________________________________________________

The SQL query is attempting to delete any department having no employee reporting to it. The result depends on the sequence in which the DEPARTMENT records are read. If department A is read first, the NOT IN clause is true so department A is deleted. This cascades from FIG. 3F to REPORTS in FIG. 3G, deleting EMPNOs 1 and 2. When DEPTNO B is read, the NOT IN clause is again true because EMPNOs 1 and 2 were deleted. Therefore, DEPTNO B is now deleted, which eliminates EMPNO 3 from FIG. 3G. Finally, DEPTNO C is read and deleted. If DEPTNO B is first accessed, the NOT IN clause is false and department B is not deleted. Similarly, department C avoids deletion. Accordingly, SQL queries must avoid multi-row deletions by subquery and instead delete one record at a time using the primary key as a predicate, which is an inconvenient user restraint.

The concept of a "trigger" is well-known in the art, although triggers are not explicitly included in the SQL-92 standard promulgated by the ISO. For any event that causes a change in contents of a table, a user may specify an associated action that the DBMS must execute. The three events that can "trigger" an action are attempts to INSERT, DELETE or UPDATE records in the table. The action triggered by an event may be specified by a sequence of SQL statements. Reference is made to the above-cited Owens et al. reference and the above-cited Groff et al. reference for detailed examples of row-level and statement-level triggers. Consider the following example.

When a new order is added to the ORDERS table, the SALES column for the salesperson who took the order should be increased by the amount of the order and the QTY₋₋ ON₋₋ HAND amount for the product being ordered should be decreased by the quantity ordered. This requirement is known in the art as a "business rule". A SQL trigger, named NEWORDER, can be included in a DBMS to automatically update these database tables:

    __________________________________________________________________________     CREATE TRIGGER NEWORDER                                                         ON ORDERS                                                                      FOR INSERT                                                                    AS UPDATE SALESREPS                                                             SET SALES = SALES + INSERTED.AMOUNT                                            FROM SALESREPS. INSERTED                                                        WHERE SALESREPS.EMPL.sub.-- NUM = INSERTED.REP                               UPDATE PRODUCTS                                                                 SET QTY.sub.-- ON.sub.-- HAND = INSERTED.QTY                                   FROM PRODUCTS.INSERTED                                                          WHERE PRODUCTS.MFR.sub.-- ID = INSERTED.MFR                                     AND PRODUCTS.PRODUCT.sub.-- ID = INSERTED.PRODUCT                           __________________________________________________________________________

The first part of the trigger definition conditions trigger invocation on the attempt of an INSERT on the ORDERS table. The remainder of the definition, following the keyword AS, defines the action of the trigger. In this example, the action is a sequence of two UPDATE statements, one for the SALESREPS table and one for the PRODUCTS table. The INSERTED pseudo-table refers within the UPDATE statements to the record to be inserted by the trigger. This particular example is a "for each statement" trigger that does not create a mutating table violation. As this example demonstrates, there are several non-standard versions of the SQL known in the art that extend the SQL-92 standard substantially to support triggers.

Triggers also provide a useful method for implementing the referential integrity requirements imposed on tables by foreign keys and primary keys and can implement extended forms of referential integrity. For instance, triggers may provide a CASCADE UPDATE feature in a SQL system that does not implement the CASCADE rule. Although the declarative referential integrity and table constraint language is preferred, triggers can be used to implement the transitional "business" rules that cannot be enforced with declarative statements.

Accordingly, there is a clearly-felt need in the art for an automated process that enforces database integrity during table mutation in a query optimizer with full implementation of row-level and statement-level triggers. There is also a need in the art for an automated mutating table integrity enforcement process that eliminates run-time errors without SQL user query prohibitions. Modern query execution systems depend heavily on effective query optimization to reduce execution time and resource consumption and database integrity violation detection at run-time is too late for correcting the QEP to remove database integrity violation problems. There is in the art an unmet need for a query processing system that automatically restricts query execution plans to those plans having no mutating table integrity violations to avoid QEP failure at run-time. These unresolved problems and deficiencies are clearly felt in the art and are solved by this invention in the manner described below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention solves the mutating table database integrity problem by detecting potential mutating table integrity violations early in the query graph model (QGM) process before QGM Rewrite and query execution plan (QEP) optimization. Upon detection of a potential mutating table integrity violation, the process of this invention inserts data-flow barriers (dams) in the QGM to restrict both the QGM rewrite and the QEP generation process to produce only those query execution plans that enforce database integrity during table mutation. Each dammed data-flow arc in the QGM operates to prevent any node merger during the QGM rewrite process that eliminates (collapses) the dammed arc. This data-flow barrier effectively forces the query optimizer to generate only those QEPs that complete operations on one side of the dam before beginning any operations on the other side, thereby imposing a "sequencing" property (without specifying any particular sequence). Thus, according to this invention, the query optimizer generates and considers only those execution plans that enforce integrity during table mutation without relying on user query restrictions. This invention communicates information to the query optimizer needed to generate plans that do not allow mutating table integrity violations.

It is an object of the system of this invention to eliminate existing prohibitions on user query types. It is an advantage of the system of this invention that database integrity during table mutation is imposed on heretofore prohibited user queries.

It is another object of the system of this invention to avoid query failure at run-time arising from the selection of an optimal query plan containing mutating table integrity (MTI) violations. It is an advantage of the system of this invention that query optimization is performed over a database-integral plan space, thereby ensuring that only the optimal database-integral execution plan can be selected and executed.

It is yet another object of the method of this invention to provide for database integrity during table mutation in SQL queries containing SQL3 statement-level or row-level triggers. It is an advantage of the system of this invention that statement-level or row-level triggers can be accommodated without restriction and without violating database integrity during table mutation. It is a feature of the system of this invention that integrity is enforced by controlling the order of relational operations without prohibiting any particular relational operation, including even nested statement-level triggers.

The foregoing, together with other objects, features and advantages of this invention, can be better appreciated with reference to the following specification, claims and accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference is now made to the following detailed description of the embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary query translation process from the prior art;

FIG. 2 shows a Query Graph Model (QGM) diagram from the prior art for an exemplary SQL query;

FIGS. 3A-3G provide exemplary tables to illustrate several prohibited query examples from the prior art that violate database integrity during table mutation;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a relational database system suitable for application of the system of this invention;

FIG. 5, comprising FIGS. 5A-5B, is a functional block diagram of a flowchart showing a preferred embodiment of the mutating-table violation prevention procedure of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a flowchart showing a preferred embodiment of the "write-before-read" subroutine recited in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of a flowchart showing the preferred embodiment of the "compute non-view references" subroutine recited in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8, comprising FIGS. 8A-8B, is a functional block diagram of a flowchart showing a preferred embodiment of the procedure of this invention for preventing mutating table violations in a SQL CURSOR definition query;

FIGS. 9A-9G provide exemplary query graphs to illustrate several examples of the application of the method of this invention to formerly prohibited SQL queries;

FIG. 10 shows a QGM representation of the SEQUENCE node-type of this invention;

FIG. 11 shows a functional block diagram of a floppy disk exemplifying a computer program product according to this invention;

FIGS. 12A-12B provide exemplary query graphs to illustrate the "cursor-positioning read" arc representation of this invention; and

FIG. 13, comprising FIGS. 13A-13C, is a functional block diagram of a flowchart showing a preferred embodiment of the "compute cascade modifications" subroutine recited in FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The System of the Invention

FIG. 4 shows a functional block diagram of a computer-implemented database processing system 68 suitable for practicing the procedure of this invention. This exemplary configuration is described for illustrative purposes only and it should be appreciated that the process and system of this invention can be embodied within system 68 in many different useful fashions, including the arrangement depicted in FIG. 4. System 68 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 70, which is coupled to a parallel bus 72. The query input terminal 74 allows the user to enter queries into system 68, either from a remote terminal or through any other useful method known in the art. As used herein, a "user query" includes a combination of SQL commands intended to produce one or more output data tables according to specification included in the query. The data output terminal 76 displays the query results to the user and may be physically co-located with query input terminal 74.

System 68 includes the address space 78, which is shown schematically as containing program objects and data objects. The base table 80 is an example of a data object pulled into address space 78 from the external mass store 82 by way of bus 72. The view definition 84 is another data object representing a "virtual table" made up of elements from one or more base tables in accordance with a VIEW definition statement. External mass store 82 includes a generally large plurality of base tables, exemplified by base tables 86 and 88. These base tables are moved partially or entirely between memory space 78 and external mass store 82 in a manner well-known in the art for database management systems.

Address space 78 also includes the control program object 90, which manages the other components of system 68. These components include a query parser 92 for accepting the query input from terminal 74 and forwarding it to the Query Graph Model (QGM) optimizer 94. QGM optimizer 94 is shown as including a constraint processing module 96 in accordance with this invention.

QGM optimizer 94, with the participation of a query global semantics (QGS) processing module 96 and a data-flow dam processing module 97, rewrites the QGM representation of the user query to provide a "canonical form" of the QGM for output to the query optimizer 98. For instance, a QGM canonical form may include a large cyclical join graph organized within a single select node having data-flow arcs from many base tables, subject to the restrictions applied by QGS processing module 96 and data-flow dam processing module 97 on the QGM rewrite process. After query optimizer 98 receives the canonical "database-integral" (DI) QGM from QGM optimizer 94, a generally large number of useful plans for executing the DI-QGM are generated and tested for "cost" in accordance with a predetermined cost formula. Each of these execution plans is database-integral because the canonical QGM is database-integral. After identifying an "optimal" query execution plan, optimizer 98 produces this plan as a program object, depicted as query execution plan 100 in address space 78. Plan 100 is finally executed with the assistance of control program 90 and the resulting table is forwarded to data output of display 76 upon completion. It can be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the description of system 68 in FIG. 4 is exemplary and that the system and process of this invention, represented as the combination of QGS and dam processing modules 96 and 97, may be incorporated in any RDBMS that uses a QGM optimization process.

User Query Prohibitions

This invention eliminates the need for several prohibitions imposed by RDBMSs on SQL queries in the art to avoid run-time mutating table violations. These prohibitions can be organized into three groups: group (a) prohibition of certain queries; group (b) restrictions on the number of records on which modification is permitted in a certain query; and group (c) prohibition of certain operations performed by a row-level trigger. The query prohibitions known in the art that are obviated by this invention are now described in more detail.

Group (a) Prohibited Queries: DELETE or UPDATE is restricted to prohibit in the search condition a subquery that references the same base table that is the object of the modification, either directly or indirectly through a VIEW. INSERT is restricted to prohibit in the SELECT predicate any reference to the base table that is the object of the modification, either directly or indirectly through a VIEW. These queries are prohibited because the mutating table violation may occur when some records are modified by DELETE, UPDATE or INSERT before the subquery or SELECT predicate is fully computed. This may cause incorrect results because the subquery or SELECT predicate results may change after modification of some of the records by the primary operations. In the art, these are considered mutating table violations because the subquery attempts to read the table while it is mutating.

DELETE and UPDATE are restricted to prohibit in the search condition any subquery that references a base table that may be modified by any CASCADE rule (DELETE CASCADE or UPDATE CASCADE) because of a cascading correction of a referential constraint violation arising from the modification. This query is prohibited also because a mutating table violation occurs when a cascaded modification is applied before the subquery is fully computed. Because the cascaded modification changes a table referenced by the subquery, the subquery may obtain different results upon reevaluation after the cascading is completed. The mutating table violation occurs when the subquery attempts to read the table that is the object of the cascaded modification.

In any of these situations, the mutating table violation can be prevented by requiring the subquery computation to complete before beginning any modifications to the object. However, until now, there has been no known method for segregating these operations during the query optimization process.

Group (b) Restrictions on the Number of Records Modified by Query:: INSERT is restricted to a single row when the object of the modification is involved in a self-referencing referential constraint in which no column of the foreign key is omitted from the column list. The number of records qualifying for a DELETE query is restricted to one record if the object of the DELETE is involved in a self-referencing referential constraint with a DELETE rule of SET NULL or CASCADE. When multiple records are inserted into or deleted from a table that has a self-referencing referential constraint, each record is reviewed for conformance to the constraint as it is inserted or deleted. Accordingly, the constraint evaluation results may depend on the order in which the records are inserted or deleted, as discussed above in connection with FIGS. 3A-3B. Whenever referential constraints are evaluated immediately upon processing of each record and there is more than one record to process, a mutating table violation occurs upon constraint evaluation because the evaluation must reference the (self-referencing) table that is being modified.

A CURSOR controlled DELETE operation, which uses the DELETE WHERE CURRENT OF statement, is restricted to prohibit self-referencing tables. That is, a self-referencing table cannot be the object of a DELETE WHERE CURRENT OF statement in the art. This prohibition results from the mutating table violation that occurs when the self-referencing constraint evaluation references itself during modification.

These prohibitions in the art can be eliminated by forcing the modification to completion before checking the self-referencing constraints, but, until now, there has been no known method for segregating these operations during query optimization, thereby obliging practitioners in the RDBMS art to prohibit these forms of user queries.

The Groups (a) and (b) restrictions discussed above also extend to VIEWs.

Group (c) Restrictions on Row-Level Triggers: A row-level trigger is restricted in the art to prohibit reading from the table upon which the trigger is defined. The above-cited Owens et al. reference provides a detailed description of the various row-level trigger prohibitions known in the art. Some practitioners impose a blanket prohibition on row-level triggers, permitting only statement-level triggers, to avoid mutating table violations. If the trigger is permitted to execute upon modification of each record by the triggering operation, any attempt to read the table on which the trigger is defined encounters only partial modifications and clearly raises a mutating table violation when more than one record is modified by the triggering operation. As mentioned above in describing Group (b), these violations can be avoided by forcing the modification to completion before executing the trigger.

The Query Graph Model

The process of this invention is described herein in terms of a simplified view of the Query Graph Model (QGM) discussed above in connection with FIG. 2. In accordance with the description of this invention, a query is represented as a directed graph G in which the nodes {N_(i) } each represent tables or table expressions. Each node N_(i) is connected to at least one other node N_(j) by a directed data-flow arc A_(ji) representing the consumption by node N_(i) of records (tuple streams) produced by node N_(j) for use in the computation of records internally to node N_(i). Thus, A_(ij) ≠A_(ij) because A_(ij) represents the flow of data from N_(i) to N_(j).

The nodes {N_(i) } are labeled according to the relational operation contained therein. For example, a SELECT node N_(SELECT) represents a SELECT, PROJECT or JOIN operation on the data that flows in from the incoming data-flow arcs. A UNION node N_(UNION) represents the UNION of data that flows along its incoming data-flow arcs and a base table node T represents all the records in a base table T. Each base table is represented by at most one node in the graph G that has no incoming arcs. Every node N_(i) that has a non-cursor-positioning incoming arc A_(ji) from a base table T_(j) is considered a "read-node" R_(i) of base table T_(j). Accordingly, a node N_(i) representing a JOIN between tables T and Q is both a read-node of base table T and a read-node of base table Q. Each graph G has one special node labelled TOP to represent the entire query. The TOP node has one incoming data-flow arc that represents the results of executing the query represented by graph G.

The combination of nodes {N_(i) } interconnected by directed data-flow arcs {A_(ij) } forms a network of data-flow paths whereby each node N_(i) receives a flow of records from a subgraph g_(i) that embraces some portion of the graph G. That is, for any incoming data arc A_(ji) to a node N_(i), a "subgraph" g_(i) can be defined as the interconnected group of all nodes contributing to the data flowing along arc A_(ji) into node N_(i). Subgraph g_(i) may contain node N_(i) in a recursive graph G. As used herein, node N_(i) is said to be "on the path of" each node N_(j) within the subgraph g_(i). A second node is said to be "on the path of" a first node wherever it is possible to make a traversal in the direction of data-flow from the first and second node along the directed data-flow arcs.

Modification operations are also represented as nodes in the graph G. These include the DELETE, INSERT and UPDATE nodes, which are herein denominated as "write-nodes" W_(i). Write-nodes are characterized by the effects resulting from their performance responsive to receiving input data along the data-flow arcs. Each write-node W_(i) is associated with the one or more base tables that are the object of the modification operation. The three types of modification nodes (write-nodes) are formally described as follows:

DELETE (T₀, T₁, . . . , T_(n)) represents a node that, given an input record r, deletes the record identified by r·rid from the base table r·tid, where r·rid identifies the record id and r·tid identifies a table id for a table T_(i), 0<=i<=n.

INSERT (T₀) represents a node that inserts the input records into base table T₀.

UPDATE (T₀, T₁ . . . , T_(n)) represents a node that, given an input record r, updates the record r·rid in base table r·tid, using the above definitions. The values used for the UPDATE are also part of the input record r.

A base table is an "object" of a write-node W_(i) (DELETE, INSERT or UPDATE) if it is modified by the write-node W_(i). Each write-node W_(i) has exactly one incoming data-flow arc on which input records flow from a subgraph g_(i). Again, subgraph g_(i) may contain write-node W_(i) in a recursive graph G. The single incoming data-flow arc represents the "search-condition" in the WHERE clause of a DELETE or UPDATE node and represents the SELECT clause or VALUES input for an INSERT node. Moreover, each write-node W_(i) may also flow its input data onward to one or more other nodes in the query graph G. This feature can be used to denote constraint and trigger processing data-flows.

Each base table object of a W_(UPDATE) or W_(DELETE) node also has an outgoing data-flow arc that represents the "cursor-positioning read" of the object to be modified. For example, consider FIG. 12A, which represents a simple query DELETE FROM T₀. The base table T₀ is represented by the node 102 and the write-node W_(DELETE) is represented by node 104. The data-flow arc 106 is depicted as a dotted line and represents the cursor-positioning read of base table T₀ for node 104. The select node 108 represents the record selection from base table T₀, which record is forwarded to delete node 104 along the data-flow arc 110. Thus, cursor-positioning arc 106 exists only because base node 102 is the object of delete node 104.

The query DELETE FROM T₀ WHERE c₁ >5, which may also be represented by the graph G in FIG. 12A, wherein the predicate is internal to the select node 108. However, the query DELETE FROM T₀ WHERE c₁ >(SELECT AVG (c₁) FROM T₀) is represented by the graph in FIG. 12B, where the data-flow arc 112 represents the subquery that computes the average value of column c₁ in base table T₀. Note that the data-flow arc 114 from base node 102 to the predicate select node 116 is a non-cursor-positioning read of base table T₀ that must be completely executed before write-node 104 begins mutating base table T₀. If the data-flow along arc 114 is not completed before commencement of the side-effect of node 104, a read on arc 114 may be attempted to compute the next value of the subquery during mutation of base table T₀ by write-node 104.

As one aspect of this invention, a new SEQUENCE node is introduced that imposes an order on its inflow arcs and does not produce any usable new data on its outflow arc. This new node-type is herein denominated the SEQUENCE node, which has one outflow arc and any plurality of inflow arcs. This is illustrated in FIG. 10 as the node 118, having inflow arcs 120, 122 and 124 and also having the single outflow arc 126. If arc 120 precedes arc 22 according to the order restriction imposed by SEQUENCE node 118, then the subgraph g₁₂₀ that produces data for arc 120 is forced to be completely computed before starting on the subgraph g₁₂₂ that produces data for arc 122. SEQUENCE node 118 of this invention may be used to sequence the actions in a trigger and to control the order in which constraints and triggers are evaluated in a query.

As another aspect of this invention, the concept of "scope" is introduced to accommodate triggers. Each trigger box is compiled into the same scope of the triggering "action". The trigger's "condition" is compiled into a nested scope, with the trigger box acting as its representative node in the "scope" of the triggering action. For instance, referring to FIGS. 9F-9G discussed below, the subgraph representing the trigger condition is shown within a dotted region nested outside the scope of the main graph. A single SELECT node is the "trigger box" (node 368 in FIG. 9F and node 382 in FIG. 9G) representing the scope of the triggering action. Similarly, each statement in the trigger starts a new nested scope whose representative in the scope of the triggering action is the trigger box.

Operation of the Invention

The process of this invention is now described in detail in connection with the preferred embodiment illustrated in Tables 1-4 below and in FIGS. 5-8. To obviate all user query prohibitions discussed above, all constraint checking, constraint processing and trigger activities must be included in the query graph G. However, the process of this invention provides useful results even without this requirement, in view of the SEQUENCE node operator for imposing order on data-flows from different subgraphs.

The process of this invention detects situations in the query graph G that may cause mutating table violations and inserts data-flow barriers or "dams" in selected data-flow arcs to force the choice of query execution plans that avoid mutating table violations. Detection is accomplished by evaluating the position in graph G of each write-node W_(k) of a base table T with respect to the position of all read-nodes {R_(k) } and all other write-nodes {W_(k) } of the same base table T. The restricting dam placed along a data-flow arc represents a condition that requires complete computation of the subgraph g_(i) feeding into the dammed data-flow arc before data is permitted to flow beyond the dam (i.e., before commencing "downstream" activity). In practical terms, a dammed data-flow arc is not made available for removal by the node compaction procedures in the QGM optimizer 16 (FIG. 1), for instance. For this reason, data-flow dams must be used sparingly to avoid losing otherwise acceptable low-cost query execution plans.

In the query graph, a recursive query is identifiable because it creates a "strongly connected" subgraph. As used herein, a subgraph is said to be "strongly connected" when every node in the subgraph is reachable from every other node in the subgraph by traversing the directed data-flow arcs of the subgraph. As used herein, a strongly connected subgraph is said to be "maximal" when there is no other containing graph that is also strongly connected. Data-flow damming is not suitable for a "strongly connected" component because any such attempt to dam data-flow in a recursive query prevents query execution. Accordingly, in the embodiments of this invention described below, it is always understood that no data-flow dams need be inserted in strongly connected components of a query graph.

The group (a) query prohibitions discussed above can be obviated by placing a dam along the input arc A_(ij) to a write-node W_(j) whenever a read in the input subgraph g_(i) must be completely computed before the write is performed. The above group (b) and (c) prohibitions can be obviated by placing a dam somewhere on the path from W_(j) to node N_(i) whenever the W_(j) write must be performed before some read that is consumed by node N_(i) reachable from output arc A_(ji).

To assist in appreciating the following description of the detailed operation of the system of this invention, the invention objectives are now briefly described. For each pair of conflicting nodes (N₁, N₂), the prospects for eliminating mutating table integrity violations is determined by the semantics of the closest ancestor node common to both conflicting nodes in the query graph. There are four types of common ancestors that may exist for any pair of conflicting nodes.

(1) One of the conflicting (common-referencing) nodes may be the closest common ancestor to both nodes (e.g., node N₁). In this case, the data-flow must be dammed somewhere on the path from N₂ to N₁.

(2) A node representing a trigger may be the closest common ancestor to both common-referencing nodes. The data-flow inputs to a trigger node are (a) the triggering action, (b) the trigger condition, and the statements in the trigger body. If the conflict is between two statements in the trigger body or between a statement in the trigger body and the trigger condition, then the trigger itself enforces the sequential execution of the trigger condition followed by each statement in order of occurrence in the trigger definition. Thus, execution of one of the two common-referencing nodes always completes before execution of the other begins, thereby avoiding mutating table integrity violations. However, if the conflict is between the triggering action and either the trigger condition or a statement in the trigger body, then the data flow must be dammed somewhere on the path from the one common-referencing node in the triggering action and the trigger box itself.

(3) The closest common ancestor to the common-referencing conflicting node pair may be a SEQUENCE node of this invention. The SEQUENCE node is employed to force an order on the evaluation of constraints and triggers within a given scope by enforcing a sequential execution of several incoming data-flow arcs. This ensures completion of the execution of one of the common-referencing nodes before execution of the other common-referencing node begins, thereby avoiding mutating table integrity violations.

(4) Finally, a SELECT node may be the closest common ancestor to the two common-referencing nodes. In this case, the SELECT node must force an order on two or more data-flow executions. The write-node construction in the query graph limits the occurrence of this case to write-read conflicts where the conflicting common-referencing read-node is evaluating some constraint. Because the common-referencing read-node is evaluating a constraint for the common-referencing write-node, the SELECT ancestor-node requires execution of the write before beginning the read to avoid mutating table integrity violations. In this case, the data flow must be dammed somewhere on the path from the common-referencing write-node to the SELECT ancestor-node to avoid possible mutating table integrity violations.

The process of this invention requires the identification of common ancestor nodes before setting data-flow dams. In large query graphs, these operations can be expensive. Accordingly, the preferred embodiment of the process of this invention includes a few basic limitations to reduce the expense of this search. Principal among these are rules exploiting the observations that (a) in a read-write conflict where the read-node must be computed before the write-node, the write-node is always the closest common ancestor-node within a common scope, and (b) where two conflicting nodes belong to different scopes, the closest common ancestor-node is always in the "deepest common scope" of the two conflicting nodes.

Within a common scope, because of the nature of write-nodes, if a write-node participates in a read-write conflict where the read-node must be computed before the write-node, then the write-node is the closest common ancestor node for the conflicting pair. Hence, for a pair of read-write conflicting nodes (W,R), the process of this invention begins by assuming W to be the common ancestor-node, avoiding a search of all ancestors for R. Similarly, for write-write conflicts within a common scope, at least one of the write-nodes must be the common ancestor-node. The process of this invention begins by assuming one of the write-nodes to be the common ancestor and reverses the roles only if the other write-node is not found on the path, again avoiding a search of all ancestor-nodes for both conflicting write-nodes.

When two conflicting nodes (N₁,N₂) belong to different scopes, then the common ancestor is in the "deepest common scope" of N₁ and N₂. Accordingly, the search for the common ancestor-node can be reduced by jumping "up-scope" to find "representatives" (N_(1rep), N_(2rep)) for each of the two conflicting nodes in the deepest common scope. In the case where either of the conflicting nodes is already in the deepest common scope, then that node acts as its own representative. That is, when both conflicting nodes originate in the same scope, N_(1rep) is the same as N_(i) (symbolically expressed as N_(1rep) ═N₁) and N_(2rep) is the same as N₂. After identifying representative nodes within a common scope, the process of this invention is then applied on the reduced query graph segment found within the one common scope.

Table 1 provides a preferred pseudocode embodiment of the process for detecting and setting dams for INSERT, DELETE and UPDATE operations, both "searched" and "positioned". The input is a query graph G representing a query with all constraints and triggers compiled in as nodes and data-flow arcs.

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________     prevent.sub.-- mutating.sub.-- table.sub.-- violations (G /* the query         graph */)                                                                      begin                                                                           for each base table T in G                                                     {                                                                               for each write-node W in which the base table is an object                     {                                                                               /* Process read-write conflicts */                                             for each non-cursor-positioning read-node R of T                               {                                                                               LIST = NULL;                                                                   compute.sub.-- non.sub.-- view.sub.-- references (R,LIST); /* Table 3      */                                                                                 for each node N in LIST                                                        {                                                                               Wrep = representative of W in the deepest common scope of                       W and N;                                                                      Nrep = representative of N in the deepest common scope of                       W and N;                                                                      if (Wrep == Nrep)                                                              {                                                                               continue;                                                                        // W and N are in statements or in the condi-                                  // tion of the same trigger. The order of                                      // execution of these statements is defined by                                 // the trigger definition.                                                  }                                                                              if (Wrep is reachable from Nrep in the graph G)                                {                                                                                place a dam on the arc that is closest to Wrep on                              the path from Nrep to Wrep but not in a strongly                               connected component.                                                           // such an arc exists because Nrep and Wrep are not                            // in the same strongly connected component.                                 }                                                                              else                                                                           {                                                                               if (Nrep == N)                                                                 { // we need search all of Nrep's ancestors if Nrep is                           // the same as N. otherwise, Nrep must represent a                             // trigger.                                                                    place.sub.-- write.sub.-- before.sub.-- read.sub.-- dams(Nrep,Wrep     ,NULL);                                                                                       /*Table 2*/                                                           }                                                                                elseif (Nrep is reachable from Wrep in the graph G)                            {                                                                                place a dam on the arc closest to Nrep on the path                             from Wrep to Nrep but not in a strongly connected                              component.                                                                     // such an arc exists because Nrep and Wrep are not                            // in the same strongly connected component.                                  }                                                                             }                                                                             }                                                                             }                                                                             /* Process write-write conflicts */                                            for each write-node W' of T different from W:                                   {                                                                              if W and W' are not in the same strongly connected component                                 /*not in a recursive write loop */                                {                                                                               W'rep = representative of W' in the deepest common scope                         of W and W';                                                                 Wrep = representative of W in the deepest common scope of                        W and W';                                                                    if (W'rep == Wrep)                                                             {                                                                               continue;                                                                       // W and are in statements of the same trigger.                                // The order of execution of these statements is                               // defined by the trigger definition.                                        }                                                                              if (W'rep is reachable from Wrep in the graph)                                 {                                                                               place a dam on the arc that is closest to W'rep on the                         path from Wrep to W'rep but not in a strongly connected                        component.                                                                     // such an arc exists because Nrep and Wrep are not in                         // the same strongly connected component.                                     }                                                                              elseif (Wrep is reachable from W'rep in the graph G)                           {                                                                               place a dam on the arc that is closest to Wrep on the                          path from W'rep to Wrep but not in a strongly connected                        component.                                                                     // such an arc exists because Nrep and Wrep are not in                         // the same strongly connected component.                                     }                                                                              else                                                                           {                                                                               // The writes are ordered by a statement sequence box                          // that forces one write to complete before the other                          // begins.                                                                   }                                                                            }                                                                            }                                                                             }                                                                             }                                                                             end                                                                            __________________________________________________________________________

Table 2 provides a preferred pseudocode embodiment of the "place₋₋ write₋₋ before₋₋ read₋₋ dams (R,W,RA) subroutine called from Table 1.

                                      TABLE 2                                      __________________________________________________________________________     place.sub.-- write.sub.-- before.sub.-- read.sub.-- dams(R, /* node that       consumes a read of some                                                                         table T */                                                                    W, /* write.sub.-- node of T */                                                RA /* RA an arc whose subgraph contains                                         the read R of table T */)                                     begin                                                                           if (R is a sequence box)                                                       {                                                                               /* RA will not be NULL as the secluence box is never a read-node                of a base table */                                                            for each input arc WA to R whose subgraph contains W                           {                                                                               /* Note that all trigger actions are already ordered and any                    unordered subgraph represents either a constraint check or                     constraint enforcement. */                                                    if WA is not already ordered with respect to RA                                {                                                                              if RA's subgraph represents a no-action constraint, order RA                    before WA                                                                     if RA's subgraph represents a restrict constraint, order WA                     before RA                                                                     }                                                                             }                                                                             }                                                                             else                                                                            {                                                                               if (R is reachable from W in the graph)                                        {                                                                               place a dam on the arc that is closest to R on the path from                   W to R but not in a strongly connected component.                             }                                                                              for each R' for which there exists an arc A from R to R':                       {                                                                               place.sub.-- write.sub.-- before.sub.-- read.sub.-- dams(R', W, A);           }                                                                            }                                                                             end                                                                            __________________________________________________________________________

Table 3 provides a preferred pseudocode embodiment of the compute₋₋ non₋₋ view₋₋ references (R, LIST) subroutine referenced in Table 1.

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         compute.sub.-- non.sub.-- view.sub.-- references(R, LIST)                      begin                                                                           if node R is in the definition of some view computed by a                        select-node V                                                                {                                                                              for each node N that has an incoming arc from V                                 compute.sub.-- non.sub.-- view.sub.-- references(R, LIST);                    }                                                                              else                                                                           {                                                                               add R to LIST;                                                                }                                                                             end                                                                            ______________________________________                                    

The pseudocode in Table 1 can be appreciated with reference to FIG. 5, which provides a functional block diagram of a flowchart substantially representing the pseudocode in Table 1. The procedure in FIG. 5 begins in FIG. 5A with the QGM input step 128. A first loop on index i begins at step 130 and indexes across base table nodes T_(i) in graph G. This is an advantageous feature of the process of this invention, wherein the detection phase is indexed across base tables only and not pseudo-tables or views.

Within the first loop, a second loop starts at step 132 indexed on j over all write-nodes {W_(j) } in graph G that have base table T_(i) as their object. Within the j-index loop, a k-index loop begins at step 134 and indexes across all read-nodes {R_(k) } that receive non-cursor positioning reads from base table T_(i). Thus, it can be appreciated that the central process of this invention begins by selecting a base table T_(i), then selecting the first write-node for which T_(i) is the object and, for that first write-node W_(j), scanning all non-cursor positioning read-nodes (and write-nodes as discussed below) for which T_(i) is the object.

For each "common-referencing" pair of conflicting nodes, W_(j) and R_(k), the internal process begins with step 136 by setting LIST to NULL (empty). The next step 138 calls the "compute non-view references" subroutine (Table 3 and FIG. 7) for read-node R_(k), which returns a LIST of all other read-nodes that share a view that uses read-node R_(k) (i.e., every read-node with an arc from any view that has an arc whose subgraph contains the read-node R_(k)). This finds the read-nodes in the nested scopes and is required because the VIEWs, like the base tables, are not included in any of the nested scopes or in the query scope.

After step 130 returns with a LIST of nodes {N_(n) }, step 140 starts a n-indexed loop to scan each node N_(n) in the LIST. For each common-referencing node pair (W_(j), N_(n)), steps 142 and 144 evaluate each to determine a "representative" version of it in the "deepest common scope" of the two. This particular requirement is necessary only because of the special characteristics of triggers discussed above. Each statement and condition of a trigger "body" is nested into a single trigger node in graph G and may contain internal read- or write-nodes that are outside of the "scope" of other nodes in graph G.

If W_(R) ═N_(R), then the conflicting node pair has a trigger box for a deepest common ancestor and they are in the same trigger, which itself already provides proper data-flow sequencing. Otherwise, step 148 tests write-node W_(R) to determine whether it is on the path of read-node N_(R). If it is, step 150 places a dam on the arc closest to write-node W_(R) on the path from N_(R). Except for triggers, representative node W_(R) =W_(j).

If the representative write-node is not reachable from the representative read-node, then step 152 tests whether N_(R) is the same as N, and if it is, then step 154 immediately calls the "place write-before-read dams" subroutine in Table 2, which includes a test of whether the read-node is reachable from the write-node. This ensures that other read-nodes that are not on the path between W_(j) and R_(k), but which may be reading data that is also read by read-node R_(k), are included in the subsequent evaluation. If N_(R) is not the same as N, step 153 tests N_(R) to see if it is on the path from W_(R). If it is, then step 155 places a dam on the arc closest to N_(R) on the path from W_(R) that is not in a strongly-connected component. A dam is always set, but may be located further from N_(R) if necessary to avoid strongly-connected components.

After exhausting the LIST in the n-indexed loop at step 156, and after exhausting the read-nodes {R_(k) } from Table T_(i) at step 158, the procedure reinitiates the k-indexed loop at step 160 (FIG. 5B), which steps through all write-nodes {W_(k) } for base table T_(i) other than the current j-loop write-node W_(j). Step 162 tests the two common-referencing write-node W_(j) and W_(k) to determine whether both are in the same "strongly-connected" component (such as a cyclic subgraph or recursive loop). Step 162 operates to prevent dam insertion between two strongly-connected write-nodes because such damming would interrupt a recursive loop and conclusively prevent query completion.

After determining that the two common-referencing write-nodes are not recursively involved, steps 164 and 166 duplicate the "scoping" process of steps 142 and 144 (FIG. 5A) to accommodate triggers. If W_(RK) ═W_(RJ), then W_(R) and W_(j) must be in the same trigger, so that proper data-flow sequencing is enforced by the trigger itself. Step 170 then tests node W_(RK) to see if its "reachable" (on the path of) from node W_(RJ). If so, step 172 places a dam on the arc closest to W_(RK) on the path from W_(RJ) to W_(RK). Without triggers, representative node W_(RK) =W_(k).

If representative node W_(RK) is not reachable from write-node W_(RJ) and if W_(RJ) is found to be reachable from W_(RK) at step 176, then step 178 places a dam on the arc closest to W_(RJ) on the path from W_(RK) to W_(RJ) that is not in a strongly connected component. Finally, the new k-loop is exhausted at step 180, the j-loop exhausted at step 182 and the i-loop exhausted at step 184, thereby ending the process at 186.

The pseudocode in Table 2 can be understood with reference to the following description of FIG. 6. The "place write-before-read dams" subroutine requires the input QGM at 188 and also requires the input of a read-node R representing the "representative" LIST node N_(R) from FIG. 5, a write-node W representing the j-loop write-node W_(j) from FIG. 5, and a data-flow arc RA representing any arc whose subgraph g_(R) contains the read-node R. The read-node R from 190 is tested at step 192 to determine if it is a SEQUENCE node-type. If it is, step 194 initiates a q-index loop on the set of input arcs {WA_(q) } to read-node R. Step 196 then tests the subgraph g_(q) for input arc WA_(q) to find write-node W. If write-node W is included in subgraph g_(q), then subgraph g_(q) is tested against the subgraph g_(R) for read-node R to determine if their execution is ordered. If the two data-flow arcs from subgraphs g_(q) and g_(R) are not already constrained in some order, then step 200 tests the read-node subgraph g_(R) to see if it represents a no-action constraint and, if so, step 202 orders subgraph g_(R) after the subgraph g_(q). If not, then step 204 tests the read-node subgraph g_(R) to see if it represents a restriction constraint and, if so, step 206 orders subgraph g_(q) after subgraph g_(R). Finally, step 208 exhausts the q-loop and the process ends at step 210. Note that restrict constraints must be evaluated before any cascaded actions are applied while no-action constraints must be evaluated only after all cascaded actions are applied.

The effect of the "place write-before-read dams" subroutine in FIG. 6 is to impose an order of completion for the subgraphs if none exists. This is not a problem in triggers because all trigger actions are already ordered so the only unordered subgraphs found in graph G must represent either constraint checking or enforcement. Note that the SEQUENCE node type of this invention is sufficient in itself to resolve write-before-read mutating table integrity problems without data-flow dams.

If step 192 finds that read-node R is not of the SEQUENCE node-type, then step 212 tests read-node R to determine if it is reachable from write-node W, and, if so, step 214 places a dam on the arc closest to write-node W on the path from write-node W to read-node R, but not in a strongly connected component, of course. The process then ends at step 210.

If read-node R is not reachable from write-node W, then step 216 initiates a p-index loop to scan all common-referencing read-nodes {R_(p) } in graph G. After step 218 eliminates read-node R from consideration, step 220 checks for a data-flow arc between read-node R and indexed read-node R_(p). If such a connection exists, then step 222 calls the "place write-before-read dams" subroutine again for read-node R_(p). Step 222 essentially forces recursion through the subroutine in FIG. 6 for every common-referencing read-node on the path from read-node R.

The pseudocode of Table 3 may be appreciated with reference to FIG. 7, which is now described. The "compute non-view references" subroutine in FIG. 7 accepts the input QGM from 224 and also receives the identity of an input node N from 226. Step 227 tests input node N to determine if it is used in any view. If it is not, node N is added to all LIST in step 232 and the LIST is returned at step 244 with the single new entry (this subroutine may be repeatedly called from within itself at step 238). If node N is referenced by some view, then step 228 begins a 1-index loop to scan all view nodes {V₁ }. For each view node, step 230 determines whether the read-node N is in the definition of the view-node V₁. If N is not in V₁, then step 242 indexes to the next view by incrementing the 1-index. If N is in V₁, then step 234 initiates a m-index loop to scan all data-flow arcs from view-node V₁. Step 236 identifies the node N_(m) that receives the mth data-flow arc arriving from view-node V₁. With this read-node N_(m), step 238 calls the "compute non-view references" subroutine again. Step exhausts the m-loop on the data-flow arcs from view-node V₁ and step 242 exhausts the 1-loop on view-nodes. Step 244 returns LIST to the calling process. The effect of the "compute non-view references" subroutine in FIG. 7 is to compile a list of "leaf-nodes" that share a view with the subject read-node N argument specified in the subroutine call.

In addition to the procedures discussed above in connection with Tables 1-3 and FIGS. 5-7, the process of this invention also resolves row-level operations in CURSORs. If the SELECT query of an updatable CURSOR references the base table to be modified or references any base table that may be affected because of a cascaded DELETE or cascaded UPDATE from the prospective modification, then the SELECT or some portion of it must be dammed. When creating the CURSOR SELECT query graph, the base tables subject to UPDATE by subsequent positioned DELETEs and positioned UPDATEs are identified with their cursor-positioning read-nodes. Table 4 provides a preferred pseudocode embodiment of the process of this invention for computing dam placement for the SELECT query of an updatable CURSOR:

                                      TABLE 4                                      __________________________________________________________________________     prevent.sub.-- mutating.sub.-- table.sub.-- violations.sub.-- cursor(G /*      query graph for the                                                                        cursor definition */)                                              begin                                                                           LBASE = NULL;                                                                  CASC.sub.-- MODS = NULL;                                                       for each base table T in G that could be updated/deleted in a                  subsequent positioned update or positioned delete                              {                                                                               add T to LBASE;                                                                if <UPDATE, T> is not in CASC.sub.-- MODS                                      {                                                                               compute.sub.-- casc-mods(UPDATE, T, CASC.sub.-- MODS);                        }                                                                              if <DELETE, T> is not in CASC.sub.-- MODS                                      {                                                                               compute.sub.-- casc.sub.-- mods(DELETE, T, CASC.sub.-- MODS);                 }                                                                             }                                                                              /* prevent read-write conflicts */                                             for each pair <op, op.sub.-- tab> in CASC.sub.-- MODS                          {                                                                               if there exists a non-cursor positioning read-node R of op.sub.-- tab          in G                                                                           {                                                                               place the dam on the input arc to TOP;                                         goto exit;                                                                    }                                                                             }                                                                              /* prevent write-write conflicts */                                            for each table T in LBASE                                                      {                                                                               for each pair <op, op.sub.-- tab> in CASC.sub.-- MODS                          {                                                                               if (T == op.sub.-- tab)                                                        {                                                                              place the dam on the input arc to TOP                                          goto exit;                                                                     }                                                                             }                                                                             }                                                                             exit:                                                                          end                                                                            __________________________________________________________________________

Table 5 provides a preferred pseudocode embodiment of the "compute₋₋ casc₋₋ mods (op, op₋₋ table, casc₋₋ mods, G)" subroutine called from Table 4.

                                      TABLE 5                                      __________________________________________________________________________     compute.sub.-- casc.sub.-- mods(op,       /* update, delete or insert */                 optable,      /* base table object of the operation op*/                       CASC.sub.-- MODS,  /* list of operation.sub.-- table pairs *                   G        /* query graph */)                                          begin                                                                           if(op==UPDATE or op==DELETE)                                                   {                                                                               for each referential constraint R where op.sub.-- table is a parent            {                                                                               C = child table in R;                                                          if((op==UPDATE and                                                               the update action of R is CASCADE, SET NULL, or SET DEFAULT)                   or                                                                             (op==DELETE and                                                                the delete action of R is SET NULL or SET DEFAULT)                            )                                                                             {                                                                               if(<UPDATE, C> is not in CASC.sub.-- MODS)                                     {                                                                               add the pair <UPDATE, C> to CASC.sub.-- MODS;                                  compute.sub.-- casc.sub.-- mods(UPDATE, C, CASC.sub.-- MODS);                 }                                                                             }                                                                              if(op==DELETE and                                                                the delete action of R is CASCADE)                                            {                                                                               if <DELETE, C> is not in CASC.sub.-- MODS                                      {                                                                               add the pair <DELETE, C> to CASC.sub.-- MODS;                                  compute.sub.-- casc.sub.-- mods(DELETE, C, CASC.sub.-- MODS);                 }                                                                             }                                                                             }                                                                             }                                                                             for each trigger S that triggers on                                              operation op applied to table op.sub.-- table                                {                                                                               for each update statement in the body of S on some table Q                     {                                                                               if(<UPDATE, Q> is not in CASC.sub.-- MODS)                                     {                                                                               add <UPDATE, Q> to CASC.sub.-- MODS;                                           compute.sub.-- casc.sub.-- mods(UPDATE, Q, CASC.sub.-- MODS);                 }                                                                             }                                                                              for each delete statement in the body of S on some table Q                     {                                                                               if(<DELETE, Q> is not in CASC.sub.-- MODS)                                     {                                                                               add <DELETE Q> to CASC.sub.-- MODS;                                            compute.sub.-- casc.sub.-- mods(DELETE, Q, CASC.sub.-- MODS);                 }                                                                             }                                                                              for each insert statement in the body of S on some table Q                     {                                                                               if(<INSERT, Q> is not in CASC.sub.-- MODS)                                     {                                                                               add <INSERT, Q> to CASC.sub.-- MODS;                                           compute.sub.-- casc.sub.-- mods(INSERT, Q, CASC.sub.-- MODS);                 }                                                                             }                                                                             }                                                                             end                                                                            __________________________________________________________________________

The pseudocode in Table 4 may be understood with reference to the flow chart shown in FIGS. 8A-8B, which is now described. The input 245 in FIG. 8A is the QGM for the updatable cursor definition query, denominated G. In step 246, the two tables LBASE and CASC₋₋ MODS are emptied before beginning the i-index loop at step 247 to scan all base tables {T_(i) } in the query graph G. At step 248, the i^(th) table T_(i) is evaluated to determine the effect on it of a subsequent positioned UPDATE or positioned DELETE operation. Step 249 then asks if base table T_(i) would be affected if this were a DELETE or UPDATE instead of a SELECT operation. If base table T_(i) would be affected by such hypothesis, step 250 adds base table T_(i) to LBASE.

CASC₋₋ MOD is a listing of [op, op₋₋ table] pairs. In step 251 CASC₋₋ MODS is tested for the presence of an [UPDATE, T_(i) ] entry. If not found, then step 252 calls the "compute₋₋ casc₋₋ mods(UPDATE, T_(i), CASC₋₋ MODS, G)" subroutine. That is, if base table T_(i) would be affected by a hypothetical UPDATE operation, the resulting cascade modifications are added to CASC₋₋ MODS if not already present. Steps 253 and 254 accomplish the same result for a hypothetical DELETE operation. Step 255 exits the i-loop after exhausting {T_(i) } in graph G.

In FIG. 8B, step 256 begins a second i-index loop to scan the {[op, op₋₋ table]_(i) } pairs in the CASC₋₋ MODS table. For the i^(th) [op, op₋₋ table]_(i) entry in CASC₋₋ MODS, step 257 tests to see if there exists a non-cursor positioning (N.C.P.) read-node that receives data-flow from "op₋₋ table" in query graph G. If such a read-node R is found, the process immediately places a dam on the input data-flow arc to the TOP node in the cursor definition query graph at step 258, after which it exits at step 259. Step 260 exhausts {[op, op₋₋ table]_(i) } to close the i-loop if step 257 finds no non-cursor positioning read-node R for the base table "op-table" referenced in the i^(th) CASC₋₋ MODS entry.

Step 261 initiates another i-index loop on the base table {T_(i) } listed in LBASE and step 262 begins an inner j-index loop on the entries {[op, T]_(j) } in CASC_MODS. Thus, for each base table T_(i) in LBASE, every entry [op, T]_(j) in CASC₋₋ MODS is tested to see if the base-table T_(j) from CASC₋₋ MODS is the same as base-table T_(i) from LBASE. If these two base tables are found to be the same at step 263, then the process branches to step 258 to place a dam on the data-flow arc into the TOP node of the cursor definition query graph and exits at step 259. Steps 264 and 265 close the two index loops after exhausting CASC₋₋ MODS and LBASE, respectively.

The pseudocode in Table 5 can be appreciated with reference to the flowchart in FIGS. 13A-13C which is now described. The input to the "compute₋₋ casc₋₋ mods(op, op₋₋ table, CASC₋₋ MODS, G)" subroutine is the QGM at 402 and a specified [op, op₋₋ table] entry at 404. Immediately upon entry, the subroutine tests the specified operation "op" at step 406 to see if it is an INSERT operation. If it is not, step 408 begins an i-index loop to scan all referential constraints {R_(i) } imposed by "op₋₋ table" as a parent table T.

Step 412 first tests the operation "op" to see if it is an UPDATE operation. If it is not, then step 414 tests "op" to see if it is a DELETE operation. If not a DELETE operation, then step 414 transfers the process to step 416 and therefrom to the bottom of the i-loop. If step 412 finds an UPDATE operation, then step 418 tests the UPDATE action of referential constraint R_(i) to see if it is SET NULL, SET DEFAULT or CASCADE. If not any of these, then the process proceeds to step 414 (and therefrom through 416 to the bottom of the i-loop). If step 414 finds a DELETE operation, then step 420 tests the DELETE action of the referential constraint R_(i) to see if it is either SET NULL or SET DEFAULT. If neither, the process proceeds to step 416 and therefrom to step 422, which tests for a CASCADE DELETE action in R_(i), proceeding to the bottom of the i-loop if not found.

If either step 418 or 420 succeeds, then step 424 looks for a [UPDATE, C] entry in CASC₋₋ MODS, proceeding to the bottom of the i-loop if it exists. If not, then step 426 adds the necessary [UPDATE, C] entry to CASC₋₋ MODS and then calls the "compute₋₋ casc₋₋ mods (UPDATE, C, CASC₋₋ MODS, G)" subroutine to initiate a nested execution at step 428. Similarly, if step 422 succeeds, then step 432 looks for a [DELETE, C] entry in CASC₋₋ MODS and adds the necessary entry at step 434 before making a nested subroutine call at step 436 if not found. After returning from steps 428 or 436, the i-loop is closed at step 438 upon exhausting all referential constraints {R_(i) } imposed by the table T.

In FIG. 13B, the outer i-index loop is initiated at step 440 to scan all triggers {S_(i) } that trigger on the specified "op" applied to the specified "op₋₋ table". Within the i-loop, three separate j-index loops are sequentially arranged to scan the UPDATE, DELETE and INSERT statements within the body of the trigger S_(i). Thus, step 442 begins the j-index loop for the UPDATE statements in trigger S_(i), step 444 begins the j-index loop for the DELETE statements in the body of trigger S_(i) and step 446 (FIG. 13C) begins the j-index loop for scanning the INSERT statement within the body of trigger S_(i). Each of these three inner j-loops may be understood with reference to the following description of the first.

For the j^(th) UPDATE statement within i^(th) trigger S_(i), step 448 checks for an [UPDATE, Q] entry in CASC₋₋ MODS, where Q is the base table updated by the j^(th) UPDATE statement in trigger S_(i). If not found in CASC₋₋ MODS, step 450 adds [UPDATE, Q] to CASC₋₋ MODS and then makes a recursive call to the "compute₋₋ casc₋₋ mods (UPDATE, Q, CASC₋₋ MODS, G)" subroutine at step 452. Upon return from the nested subroutine call, step 454 terminates the first j-loop upon exhaustion of UPDATE statements in trigger S_(i). Finally, in FIG. 13C, after repeating this process for DELETE and INSERT statements in i^(th) trigger S_(i), step 456 terminates the i-loop upon exhaustion of the triggers {S_(i) } and returns at step 458 to end the subroutine call.

Data-flow Barrier Placement Examples

The process of this invention is now described in connection with the several examples shown in FIGS. 9A-9G. Referring to FIG. 9A, base-node 276 represents base table EMP according to the following CREATE TABLE definition. The remainder of the query graph in FIG. 9A represents the subsequent SQL query:

    ______________________________________                                         CREATE TABLE EMP(EMPNO INT NOT NULL,                                            WORKSIN VARCHAR (1),                                                           REPORTSTO VARCHAR (2));                                                       INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (1,"A","B"),                                              (2,"A","B"),                                                                   (3,"B","C");                                                                 INSERT INTO EMP SELECT * FROM EMP;                                             ______________________________________                                    

This query includes a mutating table violation wherein beginning the INSERT action of the write-node 278 before completion of the SELECT subquery at read-node 280 may cause base table EMP to grow infinitely. According to the method of this invention, a dam 282 is inserted in the data-flow arc 284, which is the "arc closest to write-node 278 on the path from read-node 280 to write-node 278 that is not also in a strongly-connected component" (FIG. 5 at step 150). Dam 282 forces the select at read-node 280 to be completed before flowing the resulting data along arc 284 to write-node 278. This effect arises from the preservation of arc 284 in all QGM rewrites generated during query optimization; that is, pipelining through or merger of nodes 280 and 278 is prohibited during optimization.

FIG. 9B provides the query graph model for the following query:

    __________________________________________________________________________     DELETE FROM EMP                                                                 WHERE WORKSIN IN (SELECT REPORTSTO FROM EMP                                     WHERE EMPNO = 1);                                                            __________________________________________________________________________

This SQL query attempts to delete all employees that work in the same department that employee 1 reports to. The SELECT node 286 reads records from base node 276 and selects those records satisfying the internal predicate (not shown) specified by the "(SELECT REPORTSTO FROM EMP WHERE EMPNO=1)" portion of the SQL query. The second SELECT node 288 accepts records from select node 286 and applies the internal predicate specified by the "WHERE WOESIN IN" portion of the SQL query to the results of the cursor-positioning arc 290. SELECT node 288 also has a cursor-positioning arc 290 from base table 276, which represents the requirement of node 288 to index through the EMP table while selecting records from node 286.

The DELETE node 292 is a write-node that operates on base table EMP. SELECT node 286 is a read-node that operates on base table EMP. Although select node 288 does read base table EMP, this is ignored by the method of this invention, which does not treat cursor-positioning arc 290 (nor any other "cursor-positioning" arc) as an element of the subgraph feeding select node 288. Once again, a data-flow dam 294 is inserted in the data-flow arc 296 to overcome the implied violation of database integrity. Arc 296 is the "input arc closest to write-node 292 on the path from the read-node 286 to the write-node 292 that is not also in a strongly-connected component" (FIG. 5 at step 150). Dam 294 forces the completion of the table represented by select node 286 before commencing modification of base table EMP responsive to the DELETE node 292.

Proceeding to the example in FIG. 9C, a new base table DEPT is created according to the specification:

    ______________________________________                                         CREATE TABLE DEPT (DEPTNO VARCHAR (1) NOT                                      NULL PRIMARY KEY,                                                                DEPTNAME VARCHAR(10),                                                          MGR INT);                                                                    INSERT INTO DEPT VALUES (`A`, `APPLES`, 3),                                        (`B`, `BANANAS`, 1),                                                           (`C`, `CHERRIES`, 2),                                                      ______________________________________                                    

The base table EMP is altered to add foreign key references to DEPT as follows:

    ______________________________________                                         ALTER TABLE EMP                                                                ADD FOREIGN KEY WD (WORKSIN)                                                       REFERENCES DEPT ON DELETE CASCADE                                          ADD FOREIGN KEY RD (REPORTSTO)                                                     REFERENCES DEPT ON DELETE CASCADE                                          ______________________________________                                    

The query graph in FIG. 9C represents the following query:

    ______________________________________                                         DELETE FROM DEPT                                                               WHERE DEPTNO NOT IN (SELECT REPORTSTO                                             FROM EMP                                                                       WHERE EMP.REPORTSTO = DEPT.DEPTNO);                                         ______________________________________                                    

This query attempts to delete all departments that do not have employees reporting to it. This is a mutating table integrity violation when the subquery is not fully computed because the result is dependent on the order in which the rows in DEPT are processed. This same example is discussed above in connection with FIGS. 3E-3G.

In accordance with the procedure of this invention, two data-flow dams 298 and 299 are added to the data-flow arcs 336 and 301, respectively, to eliminate the mutating table integrity violation from the query graph model, thereby permitting the user to submit and successfully execute the above query, which would otherwise be rejected as an error at run-time.

Referring to FIG. 9C, DEPT is represented by base node 302. The SELECT node 304 reads the records from EMP on a data-flow arc 306. SELECT node 308, with the assistance of a cursor-positioning access to DEPT on arc 310, selects records from node 302 that satisfy the WHERE EMP.REPORTSTO=DEPT.DEPTNO internal predicate (not shown). The write-node 312 operates on DEPT to DELETE FROM DEPT. The two select nodes 314 and 316 receive records from write-node 312 that indicate what records are deleted from DEPT. SELECT node 314 checks EMP, by way of cursor-positioning arc 318, for records that must be deleted responsive to the foreign key RD references to DEPT. Similarly, select node 316 reviews EMP in connection with the foreign key WD cascade requirements, with the assistance of the cursor-positioning arc 320.

The DELETE node 322 operates on EMP responsive to the data-flow from SELECT node 314. The DELETE node 324 similarly deletes records from EMP responsive to records from SELECT node 316. Thus, write-nodes 322 and 324 are included in the query graph model of FIG. 9C to enforce the DELETE CASCADE requirements in the EMP foreign keys. The SEQUENCE node 326 imposes an order on the two incoming arcs 328 and 330, ensuring that the activities of DELETE node 322 are completed before initiating the activities of DELETE node 324. Although the order is immaterial to this example, some order must be enforced and FIG. 9C illustrates the proper application of the SEQUENCE node of this invention at node 326.

Because select node 304 is a read-node operating on EMP, read-node 304 and write-nodes 322 and 324 form two common-referencing node pairs on EMP, each of which must be reviewed for mutating table integrity violations in accordance with the process of this invention. Write-node 322 can be "reached from" read-node 304 (along arc 332 to node 308 and therefrom along arc 300 to node 312 and therefrom along arc 334 to node 314 and therefrom along arc 336 to write-node 322), so step 150 (FIG. 5)of this invention is executed, inserting the data-flow dam 298 in arc 336, which is the "arc closest to write-node 322 on the path from read-node 304 to write-node 322 that is not in a strongly-connected component". Similarly, write-node 324 can be reached from read-node 304 (along arc 322 to node 308 and therefrom along arc 300 to node 312 and therefrom along arc 313 to node 316 and therefrom along arc 301 to node 324), so step 150 (FIG. 5) is executed to insert data-flow dam 299 in arc 301, which is the "arc closest to write-node 324 on the path from read-node 304 to write-node 324 that is not in a strongly-connected component".

The example shown in FIG. 9D represents the following SQL query that inserts data into a new self-referencing four-column table called DEPT:

    __________________________________________________________________________     DROP TABLE DEPT                                                                CREATE TABLE DEPT (DEPTNO VARCHAR (1) NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY,                     DEPTNAME VARCHAR (10),                                                         ADMRDEPT VARCHAR (1),                                                          MGR INT,                                                                        FOREIGN KEY ADM (ADMRDEPT)                                                       REFERENCES DEPT);                                                          INSERT INTO DEPT VALUES ("A", "APPLES", "A", 3),                                  ("B", "BANANAS, "A", 1),                                                       ("C", "CHERRIES", "B", 2);                                                  __________________________________________________________________________

In FIG. 9D, the request to insert VALUES into DEPT creates a referential integrity violation because of the self-referencing foreign key ADM. Records from the VALUES node 338 are selected by SELECT node 340 for insertion into DEPT by INSERT node 342. SELECT node 344 is a read-node on DEPT and INSERT node 342 is a write-node on DEPT. Thus, nodes 342 and 344 make up a common-referencing node pair that must be evaluated for mutating table integrity violations according to this invention. In the example in FIG. 9D, SELECT node 346 is not a SEQUENCE node of this invention.

Although read-node 344 is not on the path of write-node 342, select node 346 is on that path and SELECT node 346 uses data from read-node 344. Accordingly, read-node 344 is found at step 220 (FIG. 6), which triggers step 222. During the execution of step 222, step 214 requires the placement of dam 348 "on the arc closest to read-node 346 that is on the path from write-node 342 to the read-node 346 that is not in a strongly-connected component". This example is similar to the example discussed above in connection with FIGS. 3A-3B.

FIG. 9E shows an example of a cursor definition query graph G_(c) according to this invention. The graph in FIG. 9E corresponds to the following base table definitions and SQL query:

    __________________________________________________________________________     CREATE TABLE DEPT (DEPTNO VARCHAR (1) NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY,                       DEPTNAME VARCHAR (10),                                                         MGR INT);                                                                   CREATE TABLE EMP (EMPNO INT NOT NULL,                                            WORKSIN VARCHAR (1),                                                           REPORTSTO VARCHAR (1),                                                          FOREIGN KEY WD (WORKSIN)                                                        REFERENCES DEPT ON DELETE CASCADE,                                            FOREIGN KEY RD (REPORTSTO)                                                      REFERENCES DEPT ON DELETE CASCADE);                                        DECLARE C1 CURSOR                                                               FOR SELECT * FROM DEPT                                                          WHERE EMGR IN SELECT EMPNO FROM EMP;                                         __________________________________________________________________________

The DECLARE statement creates an "updatable cursor" known in the SQL database art. Dam 350 is inserted in arc 352 to ensure that the cursor contents are fully computed before any updates or deletes are applied that must cascade back to affect the cursor contents before completion. Referring to FIG. 8, step 250 requires that base table EMP be added to LBASE because it is affected by cascading deletes or updates from changes to base table DEPT. Either step 252 or step 254 call the "compute cascade modifications" subroutine of FIG. 13. Step 257 (FIG. 8B) looks for a non-cursor positioning read-node that is receiving data from the LBASE table T_(i), which is EMP in this example. SELECT node 354 satisfies step 257 (FIG. 8), requiring execution of step 258 to insert dam 350 in TOP arc 352, which is "the input arc to TOP" of the updatable cursor definition query graph G_(c).

FIG. 9F provides a QGM for the following SQL query that includes a READEMP trigger:

    __________________________________________________________________________     CREATE TABLE EMP(EMPNO INT NOT NULL,                                              WORKSIN VARCHAR(1),                                                            REPORTSTO VARCHAR(1));                                                      CREATE TABLE DUMMY(EMPNO INT NOT NULL,                                             WORKSIN VARCHAR (1),                                                          REPORTS TO VARCHAR(1));                                                     CREATE TRIGGER READEND AFTER INSERT ON EMP                                     FOR EACH ROW MODE DB2SQL                                                        INSERT INTO DUMMY SELECT * FROM EMP;                                            INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (1, "A", "B"),                                             (2, "A", "B"),                                                                 (3, "B", "C").                                                            __________________________________________________________________________

The trigger READEMP is shown as a nested subgraph in the region 356 of FIG. 9F. Trigger 356 includes a read-node 358 on base table EMP (node 276) and includes a new base table DUMMY at node 360. Node 362 selects VALUES from 364 and presents them to the write-node 366 for INSERT into EMP. SELECT node 368 is the only trigger node within the "scope" of the query graph G; that is, the other nodes within trigger region 356 are not within "scope" of the remaining nodes in the query graph G. Node 370 is a write-node operating on base table DUMMY.

According to the procedure of this invention, the read-node 358 operating on base table EMP and write-node 366 also operating on base table EMP are first paired. Although read-node 358 is not within "scope" of write-node 366, select node 368 is a "representative" node N_(R) of read-node 358 that is in scope of write-node 366. Accordingly, read-node 368 is tested to see if it is "on the path of" write-node 366 and, because it is, the data-flow dam 372 is placed in data-flow arc 374, which is "the arc closest to read-node 368 that is on the path from write-node 366 to read-node 368 (which is representative of read-node 358) that is not in a strongly-connected component" (FIG. 6 at step 214).

FIG. 9G shows the QGM for a second query example including a DELEMP trigger according to the following SQL query:

    __________________________________________________________________________     CREATE TRIGGER DELEMP AFTER DELETE ON EMP                                      FOR EACH ROW MODE DB2SQL                                                       INSERT INTO DUMMY VALUES (OLD.EMPNO, OLD.WORKSIN, OLD.REPORTSTO);              DELETE FROM EMP                                                                 WHERE EMPNO IN (SELECT EMPNO FROM DUMMY);                                     __________________________________________________________________________

As before, the DELETE node 376 is a write-node operating on EMP and the INSERT node 370 is a write-node operating on DUMMY. There are no read-nodes operating on EMP but the SELECT node 378 operates on base table DUMMY. As with FIG. 9F, the trigger DELEMP includes a number of nodes within a region 380 that are not "within scope" of the remaining graph. However, each of these internal "nested scope" nodes can be resolved to the "representative" SELECT node 382, which is within scope of all other nodes in query graph G.

Accordingly, write-node 370 can be resolved to the "representative" node 382, thereby creating an "in-scope" common-referencing node pair, consisting of read-node 378 and "representative-write" node 382 both operating on base table DUMMY. Such a node pair must be tested for mutating table integrity violations according to this invention. This test simply determines if write-node 382 is on the path of read-node 378 (FIG. 5 at step 148). Indeed, node 382 can "be reached from" node 378 (although node 370 cannot), which satisfies step 150 of FIG. 5. Accordingly, dam 384 is inserted into arc 385, which is the "arc closest to the representative write-node 382 on the path from read-node 378 to write-node 382 that is not in a strongly-connected component" (FIG. 5 at step 150). Dam 384 forces the actualization of all tables in the subgraph behind arc 385 before initiating activities in the trigger represented by node 382. Because nothing can be done in write-node 370 until some action by DELETE node 376, the location of dam 384 on arc 386 resolves all mutating table integrity violations in DUMMY.

As described above, the process of this invention detects and prevents database integrity violations during table mutation in two ways. When two conflicting common-referencing relational nodes are not reachable from one another, the process of this invention uses a "SEQUENCE" node to impose an execution sequence on a plurality of outgoing data-flow arcs in the QGM. When each of the common-referencing node pair is "reachable" from the other, the process of this invention inserts a data-flow barrier or "dam" in the path between the two conflicting common-referencing nodes. The process of this invention detects and prevents integrity violations arising from conflicts created by check constraints, triggers and referential constraints evaluated for given modification. Check constraints may require data-flow dams to resolve a write-before-read sequencing conflict. Referential constraints may require data-flow dams to resolve write-before-read sequencing conflicts, read-before-write sequencing conflicts and sequencing needed to complete restrict-reads before starting cascade-writes and to restrict cascade-writes before starting no-action reads. Finally, triggers require data-flow dams to resolve read-before-write and write-before-read sequencing conflicts between trigger actions and other actions in the graph containing the trigger. Of course, triggers may also require sequencing within the trigger sub-graph.

While this invention is primarily discussed as a method, it can be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art that the apparatus discussed above in connection with FIG. 4 may be programmed or otherwise designed to facilitate the practice of the method of this invention. Also, an article of manufacture, for use with a data processing system, such as the prerecorded floppy disk 502 in FIG. 11 or other similar computer program product, could include a storage medium, such as magnetic storage medium 504, and program means recorded thereon, such as the program means 506, 508, 510 and 512 in FIG. 11, for directing the data processing system to facilitate the practice of the method of this invention. It can be understood that such apparatus and articles of manufacture also fall within the spirit and scope of this invention.

Clearly, other embodiments and modifications of this invention may occur readily to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of these teachings. Therefore, this invention is limited only by the following claims, which include all such embodiments and modifications when viewed in conjunction with the above specification and accompanying drawing. 

We claim:
 1. A method for optimizing the execution plan of a query that enforces database integrity in a relational database processing system having a stored database including a plurality of base tables {T} and a data processor for processing queries represented by query graphs {G}, wherein each said query graph G includes a plurality of quantifier nodes {N_(i) } each representing a relational operation, wherein each said quantifier node N_(i) receives from each of one or more other said quantifier nodes {N_(j) } a flow of records represented by a directed data-flow arc A_(ji) forming part of a data-flow path and wherein i and j are positive integers, said method comprising the steps of:(a) evaluating said query graph G for each said base table T_(each) to identify common-referencing pairs of said quantifier nodes for which said each base table T_(each) is the object; (b) reforming said query graph G to restrict said data-flow path to sequence the execution of each said common-referencing pair of quantifier nodes to produce a query graph G_(MTI) that enforces database integrity during table mutation; (c) generating a plurality of plans for executing said query graph G_(MTI) ; and (d) evaluating the execution cost of each said query execution plan and selecting said optimal execution plan.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said quantifier nodes {N_(i) } include one or more read-nodes {R_(k) } each representing a read operation on at least one of said base tables {T} and one or more write-nodes {W_(j) } each representing a write operation on at least one of said base tables {T}, wherein k is a positive integer and wherein said evaluating step (a) comprises the steps of:(a.1) identifying in said query graph G all of said write-nodes {W_(j) } and all of said read-nodes {R_(k) } that represent a read or write operation for which said each base table T_(each) is an object.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein said each quantifier node N_(i) has a representative node that receives a flow of records from a subgraph g_(i) that embraces some preceding portion of said graph G such that said representative node for said each quantifier node N_(i) is reachable on said data-flow path from any other preceding said quantifier node N_(j) representative in said subgraph g_(i) and wherein said reforming step (b) comprises the steps of:(b.1) restricting said data-flow path for each said identified write-node W_(j) having a representative node whose subgraph g_(j) includes a node representing any said identified read-node R_(k), if any, to require execution of said subgraph g_(j) before executing said each identified write-node W_(j) ; (b.2) restricting said data-flow path for each said identified write-node W_(j) having a representative node whose subgraph g_(j) includes a node representing any other said identified write-node W_(i) ≠W_(j), if any, to require execution of said any other said identified write-node W_(i) ≠W_(j) before executing said each identified write-node W_(j) ; and (b.3) restricting said data-flow path for each said identified read-node R_(k) having a representative node whose subgraph g_(k) includes a node representing any said identified write-node W_(j), if any, to require execution of said any identified write-node W_(j) before executing said each identified read-node R_(k).
 4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of:(e) assigning a SEQUENCE node constraint to a first said quantifier node N_(i) receiving a flow of records on at least two said data-flow arcs {A_(ji) } from other said quantifier nodes {N_(j) }, wherein said SEQUENCE node constraint forces each of said at least two data-flow arcs {A_(ji) } to complete said flow of records upon initiation before starting said flow of records in another of said at least two data-flow arcs {A_(ji) }.
 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:(e) assigning a SEQUENCE node constraint to a first said quantifier node N_(i) receiving a flow of records on at least two said data-flow arcs {A_(ji) } from other said quantifier nodes {N_(j) }, wherein said SEQUENCE node constraint forces each of said at least two data-flow arcs {A_(ji) } to complete said flow of records upon initiation before starting said flow of records in another of said at least two data-flow arcs {A_(ji) }.
 6. A query optimizer system in a relational database processing system having a plurality of base tables {T} and a data processor for processing queries represented by query graphs {G}, wherein each said query graph G includes a plurality of quantifier nodes {N_(i) } each representing a relational operation, wherein each said quantifier node N_(i) receives from each of one or more other said quantifier nodes {N_(j) } a flow of records represented by a directed data-flow arc A_(ji) forming part of a data-flow path and wherein i, j are positive integers, said system comprising:base table review means coupled to said data processor for evaluating said query graph G for each said base table T_(each) to identify common-referencing pairs of said quantifier nodes for which said each base table T_(each) is the object; data-flow restriction means coupled to said base table referencing means for restricting said data-flow path to sequence the execution of each said common-referencing pair of quantifier nodes to produce a query graph G_(MTI) that enforces database integrity during table mutation; query plan means coupled to said data-flow restriction means for generating a plurality of plans for executing said query graph G_(MTI) ; and query evaluation means coupled to said query plan means for evaluating the execution cost of each said query execution plan and for selecting an optimal said execution plan.
 7. The query optimizer system of claim 6 wherein said quantifier nodes {N_(i) } include one or more read-nodes {R_(k) } each representing a read operation on at least one of said base tables {T} and one or more write-nodes {W_(j) } each representing a write operation on at least one of said base tables {T}, wherein k is a positive integer and wherein said base table review means comprises:node evaluator means for identifying in said query graph G all of said write-nodes {W_(j) } and all of said read-nodes {R_(k) } that represent a read or write operation for which said each base table T_(each) is an object.
 8. The query optimizer system of claim 7 wherein said each quantifier node N_(i) has a representative node that receives a flow of records from a subgraph g_(i) that embraces some preceding portion of said graph G such that said representative node for said each quantifier node N_(i) is reachable on said data-flow path from any other preceding said quantifier node N_(j) representative in said subgraph g_(i) and wherein said data-flow restriction means comprises:write-before-read means for restricting said data-flow path for each said identified write-node W_(j) having a representative node whose subgraph g_(j) includes a node representing any said identified read-node R_(k), if any, to require execution of said subgraph g_(j) before executing said each identified write-node W_(j) ; write-before-write means for restricting said data-flow path for each said identified write-node W_(j) having a representative node whose subgraph g_(j) includes a node representing any other said identified write-node W_(i) ≠W_(j), if any, to require execution of said any other said identified write-node W_(i) ≠W_(j) before executing said each identified write-node W_(j) ; and read-before-write means for restricting said data-flow path for each said identified read-node R_(k) having a representative node whose subgraph g_(k) includes a node representing any said identified write-node W_(j), if any, to require execution of said any identified write-node W_(j) before executing said each identified read-node R_(k).
 9. The query optimizer system of claim 8 wherein said data-flow restriction means further comprises:sequencing means for assigning a SEQUENCE node constraint to a first said quantifier node N_(i) receiving a flow of records on at least two said data-flow arcs {A_(ji) } from other said quantifier nodes {N_(j) }, wherein said SEQUENCE node constraint forces each of said at least two data-flow arcs {A_(ji) } to complete said flow of records upon initiation before starting said flow of records in another of said at least two data-flow arcs {A_(ji) }.
 10. The query optimizer system of claim 6 wherein said data-flow restriction means comprises:sequencing means for assigning a SEQUENCE node constraint to a first said quantifier node N_(i) receiving a flow of records on at least two said data-flow arcs {A_(ji) } from other said quantifier nodes {N_(j) }, wherein said SEQUENCE node constraint forces each of said at least two data-flow arcs {A_(ji) } to complete said flow of records upon initiation before starting said flow of records in another of said at least two data-flow arcs {A_(ji) }.
 11. A database processing system comprising:a data store for storing a plurality of base tables {T}; a data processor coupled to said data store for processing queries represented by query graphs {G}, wherein each said query graph G includes a plurality of quantifier nodes {N_(i) } each representing a relational operation, wherein each said quantifier node N_(i) receives from each of one or more other said quantifier nodes {N_(j) } a flow of records represented by a directed data-flow arc A_(ji) forming part of a data-flow path and wherein i, j are positive integers; base table review means coupled to said data processor for evaluating said query graph G for each said base table T_(each) to identify common-referencing pairs of said quantifier nodes for which said each base table T_(each) is the object; data-flow restriction means coupled to said base table referencing means for restricting said data-flow path to sequence the execution of each said common-referencing pair of quantifier nodes to produce a query graph G_(MTI) that enforces database integrity during table mutation; query plan means coupled to said data-flow restriction means for generating a plurality of plans for executing said query graph G_(MTI) ; and query evaluation means coupled to said query plan means for evaluating the execution cost of each said query execution plan and for selecting an optimal said execution plan.
 12. The database processing system of claim 11 wherein said quantifier nodes {N_(i) } include one or more read-nodes {R_(k) } each representing a read operation on at least one of said base tables {T} and one or more write-nodes {W_(j) } each representing a write operation on at least one of said base tables {T}, wherein k is a positive integer and wherein said base table review means comprises:node evaluator means for identifying in said query graph G all of said write-nodes {W_(j) } and all of said read-nodes {R_(k) } that represent a read or write operation for which said each base table T_(each) is an object.
 13. The database processing system of claim 12 wherein said each quantifier node N_(i) has a representative node that receives a flow of records from a subgraph g_(i) that embraces some preceding portion of said graph G such that said representative node for said each quantifier node N_(i) is reachable on said data-flow path from any other preceding said quantifier node N_(j) representative in said subgraph g_(i) and wherein said data-flow restriction means comprises:write-before-read means for restricting said data-flow path for each said identified write-node W_(j) having a representative node whose subgraph g_(j) includes a node representing any said identified read-node R_(k), if any, to require execution of said subgraph g_(j) before executing said each identified write-node W_(j) ; write-before-write means for restricting said data-flow path for each said identified write-node W_(j) having a representative node whose subgraph g_(j) includes a node representing any other said identified write-node W_(i) ≠W_(j), if any, to require execution of said any other said identified write-node W_(i) ≠W_(j) before executing said each identified write-node W_(j) ; and read-before-write means for restricting said data-flow path for each said identified read-node R_(k) having a representative node whose subgraph g_(k) includes a node representing any said identified write-node W_(j), if any, to require execution of said any identified write-node W_(j) before executing said each identified read-node R_(k).
 14. The database processing system of claim 13 wherein said data-flow restriction means further comprises:sequencing means for assigning a SEQUENCE node constraint to a first said quantifier node N_(i) receiving a flow of records on at least two said data-flow arcs {A_(ji) } from other said quantifier nodes {N_(j) }, wherein said SEQUENCE node constraint forces each of said at least two data-flow arcs {A_(ji) } to complete said flow of records upon initiation before starting said flow of records in another of said at least two data-flow arcs {A_(ji) }.
 15. The database processing system of claim 11 wherein said data-flow restriction means comprises:sequencing means for assigning a SEQUENCE node constraint to a first said quantifier node N_(i) receiving a flow of records on at least two said data-flow arcs {A_(ji) } from other said quantifier nodes {N_(j) }, wherein said SEQUENCE node constraint forces each of said at least two data-flow arcs {A_(ji) } to complete said flow of records upon initiation before starting said flow of records in another of said at least two data-flow arcs {A_(ji) }.
 16. A computer program product, for use with a relational database processing system having a stored database including a plurality of base tables {T} and a data processor for processing queries represented by query graphs {G}, wherein each said query graph G includes a plurality of quantifier nodes {N_(i) } each representing a relational operation, wherein each said quantifier node N_(i) receives from each of one or more other said quantifier nodes {N_(j) } a flow of records represented by a directed data-flow arc A_(ji) forming part of a data-flow path and wherein i and j are positive integers, said computer program product comprising:a recording medium; means recorded on said recording medium, for directing said data processor to evaluate said query graph G for each said base table T_(each) to identify common-referencing pairs of said quantifier nodes for which said each base table T_(each) is the object; means recorded on said recording medium, for directing said data processor to reform said query graph G to restrict said data-flow path to sequence the execution of each said common-referencing pair of quantifier nodes to produce a query graph G_(MTI) that enforces database integrity during table mutation; means, recorded on said recording medium, for directing said data processor to generate a plurality of plans for executing said query graph G_(MTI) ; and means, recorded on said recording medium, for directing said data processor to evaluate the execution cost of each said query execution plan and selecting said optimal execution plan.
 17. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein said quantifier nodes {N_(i) } include one or more read-nodes {R_(k) } each representing a read operation on at least one of said base tables {T} and one or more write-nodes {W_(j) } each representing a write operation on at least one of said base tables {T} and wherein k is a positive integer, said computer program product further comprising:means, recorded on said recording medium, for directing said data processor to identify in said query graph G all of said write-nodes {W_(j) } and all of said read-nodes {R_(k) } that represent a read or write operation for which said each base table T_(each) is an object.
 18. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein said each quantifier node N_(i) has a representative node that receives a flow of records from a subgraph g_(i) that embraces some preceding portion of said graph G such that said representative node for said each quantifier node N_(i) is reachable on said data-flow path from any other preceding said quantifier node N_(j) representative in said subgraph g_(i), said computer program product further comprising:means, recorded on said recording medium, for directing said data processor to restrict said data-flow path for each said identified write-node W_(j) having a representative node whose subgraph g_(j) includes a node representing any said identified read-node R_(k), if any, to require execution of said subgraph g_(j) before executing said each identified write-node W_(j) ; means, recorded on said recording medium, for directing said data processor to restrict said data-flow path for each said identified write-node W_(j) having a representative node whose subgraph g_(j) includes a node representing any other said identified write-node W_(i) ≠W_(j), if any, to require execution of said any other said identified write-node W_(i) ≠W_(j) before executing said each identified write-node W_(j) ; and means, recorded on said recording medium, for directing said data processor to restrict said data-flow path for each said identified read-node R_(k) having a representative node whose subgraph g_(k) includes a node representing any said identified write-node W_(j), if any, to require execution of said any identified write-node W_(j) before executing said each identified read-node R_(k).
 19. The computer program product of claim 18 further comprising:means, recorded on said recording medium, for directing said data processor to assign a SEQUENCE node constraint to a first said quantifier node N_(i) receiving a flow of records on at least two said data-flow arcs {A_(ji) } from other said quantifier nodes {N_(j) }, wherein said SEQUENCE node constraint forces each of said at least two data-flow arcs {A_(ji) } to complete said flow of records upon initiation before starting said flow of records in another of said at least two data-flow arcs {A_(ji) }.
 20. The computer program product of claim 16 further comprising:means, recorded on said recording medium, for directing said data processor to assign a SEQUENCE node constraint to a first said quantifier node N_(i) receiving a flow of records on at least two said data-flow arcs {A_(ji) } from other said quantifier nodes {N_(j) }, wherein said SEQUENCE node constraint forces each of said at least two data-flow arcs {A_(ji) } to complete said flow of records upon initiation before starting said flow of records in another of said at least two data-flow arcs {A_(ji) }. 